Cove Haven Resort in the Pocono Mountains, once a symbol of retro romance, faced decline as honeymoon expectations shifted. However, a resurgence of interest fuelled by viral photos and social media has breathed new life into the 'love motels', attracting a younger generation seeking kitschy charm and nostalgia.
The honeymoon period seemed over for Pennsylvania ’s ' love motels ' — until a new generation fell for their kitschy charms online. Viral snaps of heart-shaped baths and champagne glass whirlpool baths have reignited a modern romance with the retro land of love, offering a lifeline to its endangered couples-only resorts. \At first glance, Cove Haven Resort in Pennsylvania ’s Pocono Mountains — 100 miles north west of New York City — might pass for a run-of-the-mill roadside motel.
Pulling into its car park, low-slung buildings stretch endlessly toward the horizon, their pebbledash exteriors capped with flat iron roofs. But look closer and the magic starts to reveal itself: doe-eyed resident deer frolicking on the lawn, hand-painted heart signs swirling with whimsical lettering and an amorous couple fastening a golden heart-shaped locket to a nearby fence. Still, nothing quite prepares me for the moment when I ease open the door to the Champagne Tower suite — where a 7ft-tall champagne-glass whirlpool bath stands bubbling in the heart of the room, like a sudsy shrine to love itself. A rose petal trail beckons me upstairs to the boudoir, where a circular bed, unapologetically narcissistic in its design, reflects endlessly onto the mirrored ceiling above. Equal parts old Hollywood glamour and fabulous kitsch, entering the space feels like stepping into Liberace’s wildest dreams. Impressive stuff, but I’m still baffled as to how this fantasyland came to be nestled into the hills of eastern Pennsylvania, a rustic landscape otherwise dotted with industrial plants and Scout Association retreats. \The answer lies in the hotel’s Garden of Eden Apple suite, where a cherry-red, heart-shaped bath takes centre stage in this windowless sanctuary. It was this sweetheart tub that played a key role in transforming the Pocono Mountains into a honeymoon hotspot after Cove Haven Resort introduced it in 1963. The brainchild of owner Morris Wilkins, the heart-shaped whirlpool bath is said to have come to him as a vision in the dead of night. Before this eureka moment, nothing about the rural Poconos had particularly screamed romance. Instead, a post-war petrol shortage made it a quicker drive for East Coast lovebirds than Niagara Falls, while the dawn of the sexual revolution drew soulmates looking for a more racy, playful escape. Then, in 1971, magazine published a double-page-spread photo of a blushing couple spooning in one of those heart-shaped baths, officially pinning the self-proclaimed ‘Land of Love’ to the map. Soon after, more adults-only resorts sprang forth, each more flamboyant than the last. Poconos local Carole Turcotte, who now runs a farm market in the area, remembers those glory days vividly. Dressed in a gold-trimmed slinky toga that channelled the goddess Aphrodite, Carole had once worked weekends as a cocktail waitress at Cove Haven’s sister property, Paradise Stream. “This was the 1980s, when the resorts were still thriving around here,” she tells me when I pop into her store for supplies. “The resort was filled with young couples on their honeymoon or celebrating anniversaries, so there was a really lively, happy atmosphere,” she recalls fondly, adding that wholesome evening entertainment included Mr and Mrs quizzes and nightly comedians at the resort’s nightclub. \Unfortunately for the Poconos, the course of true love never did run smoothly. By the 1990s, newlyweds' expectations had shifted dramatically, while the romantic resorts remained frozen in time. Classy escapes to the cobbled streets of Europe or the sun-soaked sands of Caribbean beaches now enticed, leaving America’s love motels as little more than a campy relic of a bygone era. And so it was for decades, until the flames of desire were unexpectedly fanned for a fresh generation. On my way to meet one such newcomer, I make my way through the hotel’s cocktail lounge — a vision in pink and glittering gold that has me feeling like I’m strutting into the disco-groovy 1970s, complete with an all-you-can-eat buffet serving nostalgic cheese blintzes. I meet hotel guest Laura Heisey in the hotel’s indoor swimming area, where a waterfall cascades down a fake rock wall that could be a set piece from. Laura and her partner discovered Cove Haven Resort just 18 months ago, but the Pennsylvania pair are already on their fifth visit. Photograph from Hotel Kitsch by Margaret and Corey Bienert “We live in a busy household with teenage kids, so we come here as a couple for a little break. We’ve already booked our next stay for Valentine’s Day,” she shares, adding that while the furnishings may be a little time-worn, there’s a comforting familiarity to the place. “The staff are always the same people. But what really keeps us coming back is the vibe — it reminds me of the holiday camp from the movieLike most younger guests, Laura discovered the Land of Love through the interne
Love Motels Pennsylvania Poconos Mountains Cove Haven Resort Retro Romance Honeymoon Destination Tourism Nostalgia Internet Trends
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